The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-06-17

The unfortunate beings who are sent
to the poor-house deserve the pity Of the
entire human family. They are always
treated TO the plainest, coarsest food
and wearing apparel. and frequently
not enough of that. The poor-house is
usually let out by contract to the low
est bidder, and the contractor who
takes it as job tries to make the most
.out Of his job. Poor-house contractors
are not always humane men. They
often abuse their helpless victims, and
as they get 50 much per head for every
member. it is to their interest to have
mary, and feed them as cheaply rs
possible.
In the case. of Bill Jones contract,
like many others. it was. what is some
times called. a political job. Bill fur
nished Arnoid's mali for collector of
revenue all the votes in his school
district, and Arnold. who had elected
the county jastice. just as one or two
men Sometimes do elect every officer in
their county, had Bill appointed poor
house keeper. We fear the county
justices did not look to the interests of
those unfortunates who depend on them
for the little comfort they require in
this world. They did not study the
physiognomy of those brutal features.
or consider the suffering he might
cause. But they rather considered
whether they would gain the most
votes by appointing him or the benev-
olent-looking man recommended by
his pastor as suitable person. Preach
rers are not usually good electioneers. and
consequently their recommendations
are hardly ever considered in the dis
tribution Of public patron age.
"Old Blaze can preach like blue
blazes," theH thought. "b,t he didn't
help usto car Office. and he can't do
any work to reflect u.s.
Bill Jones and a gallon of cheap
whisky would carry more votes on
election day than all the sermons Old
Blaze might preach in six months. so
they gave the poor-house. at ArnOld's
suggestion, to Bill Jones. whom we
find the proprietor when little Amos
Lakeman is entered. by order Of Ar
mold, pauper. The little fellow sat
for long time in his hard chair. after
his piteous call for his sister. He was
silent now. Those wretched creatures
had snarled at him like wolves when
they heard him, and II seemed IS If
they had claws with which to tear out
his eyes. He could only groan and
sob. while his flushed cheeks dried up
the tears before they fell. He dared
make no outcry, though his head was
so dizzy and his side painedshim SD
much that he could scarcely maintain
himself in his hard seat He saw other
creatures around in the yard who were
equally as wretched. dirty and helpless
rs those in his room. Bill Jones, with
a large whip more like a slave-driver
than a poor-house keeper. was beating
an old man because he could not hoe
in the garden.
You lazy dog" he Numbered, dye
think we're goin' to keep We here like a
lord, and We do nothin'?'
..Oh. don't. don't,'' cried the old
man. trying to escape the keen lash Of
the whip; In report We, if We don't
quit.
Report me. We rascal. crack. crack.
crack came the whip about his body
and almost bare legs. The pauper
could only scream with pain. He
backed up in a fence corner and then
down. buried his face in his
hands and arms. while the keen lash
was laid upon his almost bare Shout